NEW YORK (AP) The most dramatic moment of the first Gotham Awards on Monday night was Robert De Niro’s political speech, which the actor claimed had been changed without his consent. Celine Song’s melancholic romance “Past Lives” took top honors.

After taking home the best feature picture prize at the Gothams, “Past Lives,” which debuted at the Sundance Picture Festival in January and became an arthouse blockbuster for A24 in June, might be a dark horse for this year’s Oscar race. Strong feelings are felt for Song’s feature film debut, which stars Greta Lee as a Seoul-born lady who, after marrying an American (John Magaro), gets back in touch with her South Korean childhood friend (Teo Yoo).

When Song accepted the prize, she remarked, “This is the first film I’ve ever made and a very personal film about an extraordinary feeling I had in an ordinary bar in the East Village, not too many blocks away from here.” “This film has taught me and all of us that you’re never alone in that extraordinary feeling as it has been shared with the world.”

On Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in New York, at the Cipriani Wall Street for the Gotham Independent Film Awards, Celine Song poses with the best feature trophy.

On Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in New York, at the Cipriani Wall Street for the Gotham Independent Film Awards, Celine Song poses with the best feature trophy.

Though “Past Lives” was the clear favorite, things went awry when De Niro—who starred in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon”—took the stage to give the movie a commemorative award. As he was speaking, De Niro saw that something had been left off of the teleprompter. He finished his speech, tried to scroll back through, and went back to reading from his phone.

“My speech was edited, with the beginning removed,” De Niro said. “I was unaware of it.”

Known for his vehement criticism of the outgoing president, Donald Trump, De Niro went on to discuss America’s “post-truth society” and chastised Hollywood, especially John Wayne, for their previous portrayals of Native Americans.

“During his four years in office, the former president lied to us more than 30,000 times, and he’s keeping up the pace with his current campaign of retribution,” De Niro declared. He is unable to conceal his soul behind all of his falsehoods. He denigrates nature, assaults the defenseless, and displays his disdain by, for instance, calling Pocahontas a liar.

After “Killers of the Flower Moon” was released, De Niro appeared to hold Apple responsible for the alterations to his speech.

“So I’m going to thank Apple and say these things to them. Batmans. Blah, blah, blah. Apple. However, I don’t really feel like giving them credit for what they accomplished,” De Niro remarked. “Actually, how dare they do that?”

Late on Monday night, calls for a response from Apple were only answered after some time.

Even if Scorsese was unexpectedly absent, it was still a great night for his epic about the Osage murders in the early 20th century. Though not for that performance, Lily Gladstone, who plays Leonardo DiCaprio’s opposite in the movie, took home the Best Lead Performance award.

“I issue a challenge to all the filmmakers in this room: Invest. “Invest in people with your budget,” said Gladstone. “Make an investment in the people your narrative is about. It will improve your film. Your lives will improve as a result.

In its 33rd year, the Gotham Awards have surpassed most of the significant events preceding the Academy Awards. However, they have come to be known as the season’s first major event and a sneak peek at some of the favorites.

The Gotham Awards, presented by the Gotham Film & Media Institute and held at Cipriani Wall Street annually, are unique among award shows because of a few peculiarities. A tiny group of journalists, critics, and industry experts selects the prizes. Ten actors are nominated for lead performances and ten for supporting roles in their gender-neutral acting categories.

The best international film category was one of the most contested this year. There, Justine Triet’s courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall,” which won the Palme d’Or, defeated films including “Poor Things,” “All of Us Strangers,” and “The Zone of Interest.” Also winning for best script was Triet’s movie.

With four nominations, Andrew Haigh’s poignant metaphysical drama “All of Us Strangers,” which starred Andrew Scott as a screenwriter sent back into his youth while forging a bond with a neighbor (Paul Mescal), was the leading contender going into the Gothams but left empty-handed.

Despite removing the $35 million budget restriction for nominations by the Gothams this year, many high-budget films chose not to submit. Awards season began more slowly due to the months-long Screen Actors Guild strike, but one of the first issues to be answered is if anything can match the polar opposite summer hits, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.”On Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in New York, Greta Gerwig left, and Margot Robbie stand with their worldwide icon & creator homage trophies for “Barbie” at the Gotham Independent Film trophies at Cipriani Wall Street.

On Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in New York, Greta Gerwig left, and Margot Robbie stand with their worldwide icon & creator homage trophies for “Barbie” at the Gotham Independent Film trophies at Cipriani Wall Street.

Among the various tribute honorees were Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie from “Barbie.” During their joint statement, Gerwig stated that Noah Baumbach, her partner, learned that they were co-writing the film via a Variety piece that included both of them. Gerwig says he forwarded the piece to her with only a question mark.

“He replied, ‘It’s alright, let’s make each other laugh,'” continued Gerwig.

Charles Melton performed in Todd Haynes’ “May December ” and received the best supporting role. He portrays a young parent who was a juvenile when he initially started seeing his wife, Julianne Moore.

Teyana Taylor plays a single mother in A.V. Rockwell’s directorial debut, “A Thousand and One,” which took home the award for breakthrough director. She mentioned that every other nominee save her was a woman. “Just getting here is a fight,” she remarked.

“To be honest, when you look like this, it is really difficult to tell a culturally specific story,” stated Rockwell.

The Tunisian documentary “Four Daughters,” directed by Kaouther Ben Hania and based on an accurate tale of a woman who had two radicalized kids, won best documentary. The disappearance is reconstructed in the film.

Presenting their breakthrough series under 40 minutes trophies for “Beef” at the Gotham Independent Film trophies at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in New York are Jake Schreier, left, Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, and Lee Sung Jin.

Presenting their breakthrough series under 40 minutes trophies for “Beef” at the Gotham Independent Film trophies at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in New York are Jake Schreier, left, Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, and Lee Sung Jin. Images courtesy of Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

The Netflix series “Beef,” which starred Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as a couple embroiled in a quarrel following a road rage incident, took home the awards for both breakthrough series under 40 minutes and Wong’s performance in the TV category.

“I promise that ‘Beef’ is more than just Steven and me crying if you haven’t seen it yet.” Wong stated.

On Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in New York, Gideon Glick, left, Carey Mulligan, middle, and Bradley Cooper, pose in the winner’s room at the Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street.

On Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in New York, Gideon Glick, left, Carey Mulligan, middle, and Bradley Cooper, pose in the winner’s room at the Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street.

The Gotham stage was guaranteed celebrity power thanks to tribute awards. These were awarded to Ben Affleck, director and costar of “Air,” George C. Wolfe, director of “Rustin,” Michael Mann, director of “Ferrari,” and Bradley Cooper, director, star, and co-writer of “Maestro.”

However, Affleck was not present. Instead, Alex Convery, the film’s screenwriter, took the prize.

Convery said, “Well, you thought you were getting Ben Affleck.” “I apologize.”

The Gothams have a mixed record for predicting future award-show success. Ke Huy Quan’s supporting actor bid began with this year’s first victory in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which became a runaway Oscar campaign. The previous year, “The Lost Daughter,” the Gotham winner, faltered throughout the campaign path, while “Nomadland,” the 2020 winner, made it to the Academy Awards.

Conclusion

• Celine Song’s film “Past Lives” won the Best Feature Picture prize at the Gotham Awards, making it a potential dark horse in the upcoming Oscar race.
• Robert De Niro claimed that his political speech at the awards was altered without his consent, criticizing the outgoing president and Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans.
• Lily Gladstone, who starred in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” won the Best Lead Performance award, urging filmmakers to invest in the people their narratives are about.
• The Gotham Awards, known as a precursor to the Academy Awards, also honored other films like “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Beef,” and tribute awardees such as Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, and Bradley Cooper.